Want help/info/advice on 1905 4th. target

Babysitr · #1 01-19-2020, 01:01 PM

Last year I bought a 1905 4th change target (I think) #474952..the gun is real nice overall, hardly a turn line,slight freckle in blue,slight holster burn..All numbers match,including the stocks. Please if you guys would help me with aprox. value, age, is that front sight orig? rear orig? I have not pulled the sights. the front sight is nicely blued and looks properly done..Could I find an orig. front patridge blade? should I even mess with it? Is this a gun I should have lettered so my kids can get its value?....Please tell me what you can, I can take it,and need the expert opinions, can get more pics' if needed..sorry to blabber on, but I've been putting off posting this gun

glowe · #2 01-19-2020, 01:16 PM

I have one very close to yours with sn 482853 that shipped early 1925. Found it at an auction for $400 and now value it at $650. You can compare yours to mine, but yours may be nicer, so worth more.

hkcavalier · #3 01-19-2020, 01:56 PM

I'd pull my shoulder out of socket reaching for my wallet to buy a gun like the OP's for $650.

Interested to hear about the originality from the real experts on here. The finish looks excellent and original to me.

Babysitr · #4 01-20-2020, 11:38 AM

Gary, your's is every bit as nice as mine. the pics' helped mine...mine has a square rear notch sight and the front looks like a reshaped Patridge. I see no rework marks anywhere,looks orig.I'm into this gun at $640 and I wanted it so I'm happy! hope more experts chime in on the sights (leave them)? Letter the gun? It has a new permanent home!

hibbs · #5 01-20-2020, 12:28 PM

The front sight could be what S&W called a Special Patridge. Was a special order break open sight up to~ 1920. Never cataloged. A close up of your
sight might reveal more info.

Richard

Babysitr · #6 01-20-2020, 01:18 PM

Thanks Richard....maybe so. here are the sights. sure looks orig, but,,,am I back to a letter?

Waveski · #7 01-20-2020, 02:34 PM

Very nice gun - very interesting front sight. The starboard side view seems to show a hue of case hardening...?
I am not familiar with that type of front sight , but it sure does not look like something that was ad libbed , it looks very properly done.
I am hoping that someone here can determine if it is factory original.

Waveski · #8 01-20-2020, 02:35 PM

And - Nice job with the pictures.

series guy · #9 01-20-2020, 02:44 PM

I sure wouldn't change a thing. Beautiful target model. Pretty darn nice for close to 100 years old.

Babysitr · #10 02-20-2020, 07:46 PM

Received letter today for 1905 target 4th change...6" blue checkered stocks Patridge front sight,shipped 7/1/24 to Shapleigh Hardware co. St. Louis,Mo..confirms that the revolver is jus like when shipped...I drive by the old Shapleigh hardware building everyday that I work! My parents used Shapleigh to supply their hardware store ( later known as Witte hdwe.) not the jackpot, but,interesting!!!

Hawg Rider · #11 02-21-2020, 07:31 AM

Babysitr: Did you happen to see the Forum post just above yours..."Sibling TLTs"? His two triplelocks were sent to Shapleigh Hardware in 1918. Must have been an interesting store.

Babysitr · #12 02-21-2020, 09:03 AM

Hawg Rider....Shapleigh was the supplier, they sold to small town hardware stores all around the Stl. area...But I think they had a retail store also ?? not sure....that's a time when you could special order anything..and the quality was fantastic, that revolver could have been sold from my parents hardware store,before they bought it in 1957???? just saying....

glowe · #13 02-21-2020, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babysitr

Hawg Rider....Shapleigh was the supplier, they sold to small town hardware stores all around the Stl. area. . .

I believe they went well beyond the St. Louis area. I have both historical letters and an early box that went through that distributor indicating they got to far west Texas. The box below has a Norvell-Shapleigh Hardware Co. label on a box that has writing on the bottom with a May, 1902 date on bottom of box and the following information:

W. B. Luck (who was born in Victoria, TX in 1870)
Big Springs
Texas
____________
West Texas National Bank
_____________
May 3, 1902
Something else below the date?? (illegible)

OFT II · #14 02-21-2020, 01:38 PM

Gary, the bank building in the first photo still exists in Big Spring. The bank itself has moved on to another place however.

Babysitr · #15 02-21-2020, 01:43 PM

Gary, I don't doubt that a bit! they likely had a legion of traveling salesman, calling on retailers! the letter probably did not increase the value of my revolver in dollars , but it did in the enjoyment factor!